2018 Taiwanese movie Dear Ex (誰先愛上他的) online at Pitt, October 14.

The University of Pittsburgh's Office of International Services will present the 2018 Taiwanese movie Dear Ex (誰先愛上他的) on October 14 as part of its Watch Party Wednesdays series. From a 2019 New York Times review:

Following the death of his father (Spark Chen), [13-year-old] Chengxi finds himself caught between his mother, Sanlian (Hsieh Ying-hsuan), and Jay (Roy Chiu), a man for whom his father left his family. Chengxi has been written out of his late father’s insurance policy, and all of the money will now go to Jay — as soon as Sanlian signs off on it. Chengxi copes with the resulting fight by moving in with Jay (to the displeasure of both adults), drawn to the man’s mercurial nature and relationship with his father.

The 7:00 pm event is free and open to the public, though registration is required.

Chinese 3D computer-animated film Legend of Deification (姜子牙) in Pittsburgh, from October 1.

The upcoming Chinese 3D computer-animated film Legend of Deification (姜子牙), also known as Jiang Ziya, will open in Pittsburgh on October 1. From the distributor:

To earn his place amongst the gods, celestial army commander Jiang Ziya must vanquish a terrifying fox demon threatening the very existence of the mortal realm. After learning the creature’s fate is tied to that of a young girl, Jiang Ziya disobeys Heaven’s edict and spares the demon, resulting in his banishment to the mortal realm. Ten years later, he is given one more chance to complete the task, and Jiang Ziya must decide: is joining the ranks of the heavens worth the price of one innocent life?

JIANG ZIYA—follow-up to international blockbuster NE ZHA and second chapter in the Fengshen Cinematic Universe—is a fate-defying, action-packed legendary tale retold through vibrant Chinese animation.

The first movie, Ne Zha, played in Pittsburgh last year. Legend of Diefication will play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

4K remaster of Japanese movie Akira (アキラ) at Hollywood Theater in Dormont, October 2 through 8.

The 4K remaster of Japanese movie Akira (アキラ), which opened in Pittsburgh on September 24, will continue at the Hollywood Theater in Dormont from October 2 through 8. From the distributor:

Akira, the crown jewel of anime and science fiction, returns to theaters with remastered 4K visuals and remixed audio. In the future, Shotaro Kaneda and his motorcycle gang tear through Neo Tokyo, a city divided by growing tensions. But when caught in an accident, Kaneda’s friend Tetsuo Shima discovers a secret government project and receives psychic abilities beyond his control.

Tickets for the Hollywood Theater's screenings are available online. The theater is located at 1449 Potomac Ave. in Dormont (map), and is accessible by Pittsburgh's subway/LRT at a block south of Potomac Station. The movie will continue at local Cinemark theaters through the 30th.

2004 Japanese film Nobody Knows (誰も知らない), part of Hirokazu Koreeda series, online at Pitt on October 14.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will present the 2004 Japanese film 2004's Nobody Knows (誰も知らない) on October 14, the second of a three-part series of Hirokazu Koreeda films. A brief introduction, from a 2005 Roger Ebert review:

As "Nobody Knows" opens, we watch a mother and two kids moving into a new apartment. They wrestle some heavy suitcases up the stairs. When the movers have left, they open the suitcases and release two younger children, who are a secret from the landlord. "Remember the new rules," the mother says. "No going outside. Not even on the veranda -- except for Kyoko, to do the laundry."

The film will be presented with comments from Dr. Charles Exley of Pitt's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures. Registration for the free 7:00 pm event is required.

Pittsburgh-based WholeRen Education (美国厚仁教育集团) hiring bilingual Mandarin-English ECE tutor.

Pittsburgh-based Chinese education consulting and placement firm WholeRen Education (美国厚仁教育集团) has announced an opening for a Mandarin-speaking ECE tutor.

An Ant Strikes Back (アリ地獄天国), Grand Prize winner of the 2020 Pittsburgh Japan Documentary Film Award, online on September 26.

The Japan Council of the University of Pittsburgh and SCREENSHOT: ASIA will present the documentary An Ant Strikes Back (アリ地獄天国), Grand Prize winner of the 2020 Pittsburgh Japan Documentary Film Award, on September 26. The online screening begins at 7:00 pm, followed by a conversation with director Tokachi Tsuchiya. A synopsis, from Nippon Connection:

More than 5,000 people died from the ramifications of overworking in Japan between 2006 and 2017 – and this is only the official number. Rarely do Japanese employees stand up against exploitative working conditions, since the social pressure is too high. In his documentary, Tokachi TSUCHIYA follows the case of a moving company sales agent who decides to no longer accept illegal employment contract clauses and a humiliating work environment. Initially being just like an ant among others, he joins a labor union and fights not only for his own rights, but for the rights of all “ants” in Japan’s workforce.

The free event will be hosted live on Vimeo.

Ross Park Mall's Tiffany & Co. hiring Mandarin-speaking seasonal help.

The Tiffany's store in Ross Park Mall is hiring Mandarin-speaking seasonal help: Seasonal Operations Professional - Pittsburgh and a Seasonal Sales Professional / Seasonal Sales Support positions. The qualifications for both: 

Required Qualifications:

• Must be available to work non-traditional business hours including nights, weekends and holidays.
• Previous retail or luxury retail or customer related experience (i.e. hospitality, etc.).
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, customer service skills and the ability to prioritize while handling multiple tasks is required.
• Ability to work with a diverse client base.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Must have authorization to work in the United States or in the country where the position is based.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficiency in Point of Sales (POS) systems and Microsoft Outlook/e-mail.
• Language skills appreciated: Chinese (Mandarin & Cantonese), Spanish, and Japanese.

2018 Chinese movie Animal World (动物世界) online at Pitt, part of Watch Party Wednesdays, September 30.

The University of Pittsburgh's Office of International Services will present the 2018 Chinese film Animal World (动物世界) on September 30, part of its Watch Party Wednesday series. A South China Morning Post review writes:

An earnest adaptation of a profoundly silly Japanese anime, Chinese director Han Yan’s film is about a young man stuck in a dead-end job who dreams of slaying monsters and gets sucked into a deadly game of rock-paper-scissors

The 7:00 pm event is free and open to the Pitt community, though registration is required.

"International Pathways to The Pitt School of Education," online on September 29.

The University of Pittsburgh's Institute for International Studies in Education will host its first online Brown Bag of the year, "International Pathways to The Pitt School of Education," on September 29.

2019 Japanese documentary Book-Paper-Scissors (つつんで、ひらいて) online on September 25, part of 2020 Pittsburgh Japan Documentary Film Award.

The 2019 Japanese documentary Book-Paper-Scissors (つつんで、ひらいて), named the 2020 Honorable mention in this year's Pittsburgh Japan Documentary Film Award, will screen online on September 25. A summary, via Japan Cuts:

Nobuyoshi Kikuchi is a man contentedly out of step with the times. Forgoing modern technology, the 77-year-old master book designer (soutei-ka) has utilized the traditional tools of scissors, rulers, and pencils to design over 15,000 extraordinary book covers by hand throughout his decades-long career. With careful, philosophical consideration of every aspect of the process, Kikuchi also chooses the paper and ink to best represent the essence of each book. Filmed over three years, this passion project from Hirokazu Kore-eda protege Nanako Hirose (whose late father was also a book designer) matches Kikuchi’s contemplative and considerate approach to his craft, offering a thoroughly measured portrait of the pursuit of perfection and 94 minutes of ASMR for design enthusiasts and bibliophiles.

The free event starts at 7:00 pm and is followed by a conversation with director Nanako Hirose. It will be hosted live on Vimeo.

Japanese documentary Oyster Factory (牡蠣工場) online as part of 2020 Pittsburgh Japan Documentary Film Award, tonight, September 24.

The Japanese documentary Oyster Factory (牡蠣工場) will be presented online this evening from 6:30 pm, followed by a conversation with the director, Soda Kazuhiro, as part of the University of Pittsburgh's 2020 Pittsburgh Japan Documentary Film Award.

2019 documentary Queer Japan (クィア・ジャパン) part of (online) Reel Q: Pittsburgh LGBTQ+ Film Festival, October 12.

The 2019 documentary Queer Japan (クィア・ジャパン) will play online on October 12 as part of the Reel Q: Pittsburgh LGBTQ+ Film Festival.

Queer Japan is an ensemble film that profiles a range of artists, academics, community organizers, and activists who are members of the LGBTQcommunity in Japan. Kolbeins has described the film as "a series of character studies," rather than an issue-focused documentary.

The film will be available online on the 12th and viewers will have 24 hours to complete it.

New Chinese movie Leap (夺冠) in Pittsburgh from September 25.

The 2020 Chinese movie Leap (夺冠) will play in Pittsburgh from September 25. A summary of the film, starring Gong Li and Huang Bo, from MyDramaList:

The film tells the journey of several generations of Chinese National Women's Volleyball Team and their touching stories of tenacious struggle and glory for the country for the past 40 years.

It will play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online. The theater is located at 300 West Waterfront Dr. in the Waterfront shopping complex in Homestead (map), across the Monongahela River from Greenfield, Squirrel Hill, and the rest of Pittsburgh.

2019 Japanese film Lupin III: The First (ルパン三世 THE FIRST) in Pittsburgh, October 18 and 21.

The 2019 Japanese film Lupin III: The First (ルパン三世 THE FIRST) will play in Pittsburgh on October 18 and 21. A summary from the distributor:

The iconic “gentleman thief” Lupin III returns in an action-packed, continent-spanning adventure, as Lupin III and his colorful underworld companions race to uncover the secrets of the mysterious Bresson Diary, before it falls into the hands of a dark cabal that will stop at nothing to resurrect the Third Reich. The gang undertakes trap-filled tombs, aerial escapades and daring prison escapes with the trademark wit and visual finesse that have made LUPIN THE 3RD one of the most storied animation franchises in the world, in a thrilling new caper that is sure to delight fans old and new.

It will play locally at the Cinemark theaters in McCandless and Monroeville, and tickets are available online. The October 18th screening is dubbed in English while the October 21st one has English subtitles.

2019 Chinese documentary Our Time Machine (时光机) playing online via Tull Family Theater, from November 16.

The 2019 Chinese documentary Our Time Machine (时光机) will play online via the Tull Family Theater in Sewickley from November 16. A synopsis from the film's official site:

Shaken by the news of his father’s dementia, artist Maleonn creates “Papa’s Time Machine,” a wondrous time-travel adventure performed on stage with life-size mechanical puppets. Through the play’s production, he confronts his own mortality. Maleonn finds grace and unexpected joy in this moving meditation on art, the agonies of love and loss, and the circle of life.

It played in Pittsburgh last year and was scheduled to run online this month but was cancelled due to the Rangos Giant Cinema's closure. Tickets for the November screenings are not yet available.

The Korean Peninsula and the U.S. Commitment to the Region, September 30 with World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh.

The World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh will host "The Korean Peninsula and the U.S. Commitment to the Region" online on September 30.

Is North Korea the nation posing the greatest threat to the U.S.? Why do we need to pay attention to what’s happening in the Korean Peninsula? Amidst COVID-19 and its fallout, policymakers are confronted with newly emergent issues alongside pre-existing ones. As the pandemic spreads, US-North Korea talks remain stalled, inter-Korean relations persist as mostly one-sided, and North Korea has continued to test and refine its military capabilities as well as ratchet up its rhetoric, and COVID-19 has intensified a growing US-China strategic competition. From a decades-old military alliance to deep economic ties and a large and vibrant Korean-American community, the linkages between the United States and the Korean Peninsula remain as important as ever.

The Stimson Center and Stimson’s 38 North program, working with the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, presents a dialogue to discuss the importance of the US commitment to the Korean Peninsula. Speakers include: (Ret.) Walter Sharp, former Commander, US Forces Korea (2008-2011) and former President of the Korea Defense Veterans Association (KDVA), Jenny Town, Stimson Fellow & Deputy Director of Stimson’s 38 North, and moderated by Clint Work, Stimson Fellow & Security for a New Century & 38 North.

The talk runs from 2:00 to 3:00 pm online and is free and open to the public. Registration can be completed online.

Discussion of Leslie Chang's Factory Girls, October 15 with University of Pittsburgh's Global Studies Center.

The University of Pittsburgh's Global Studies Center will host a discussion of Leslie Chang's 2008 book Factory Girls on October 15.

This reading group for educators explores literary texts from a global perspective. Content specialists present the work and its context, and together we brainstorm innovative pedagogical practices for incorporating the text and its themes into the curriculum. Sessions this year will take place virtually on Thursday evenings from 5-7:30 PM. Books and Act 48 credit are provided.

More showtimes announced for 4K remaster of Japanese movie Akira (アキラ), in Pittsburgh from September 24.

More showtimes have been announced for the 4K remaster of the 1988 Japanese movie Akira (アキラ), which will play in Pittsburgh from September 24. Wikipedia provides a summary of the film:

Set in a dystopian 2019, Akira tells the story of Shōtarō Kaneda, a leader of a biker gang whose childhood friend, Tetsuo Shima, acquires incredible telekinetic abilities after a motorcycle accident, eventually threatening an entire military complex amidst chaos and rebellion in the sprawling futuristic metropolis of Neo-Tokyo. While most of the character designs and settings were adapted from the manga, the plot differs considerably and does not include much of the last half of the manga. The soundtrack, which draws heavily from traditional Indonesian gamelan as well as Japanese noh music, was composed by Shōji Yamashiro and performed by Geinoh Yamashirogumi.

It is scheduled to play locally at the Cinemark in McCandless on the 24th and the Cinemark in Robinson from the 24th through 30th; tickets are available online.

"Make Tea, Not War: Tea and Conflict in Russia and Northeast Asia," October 1 (online) at Pitt.

by Flood G.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center and Center for Russian and Eastern European Studies will present a discussion and demonstration of Japanese green teas, "Make Tea, Not War: Tea and Conflict in Russia and Northeast Asia," on October 1.

Join the Center for Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies and the Asian Studies Center for a demonstration and tasting of Japanese green teas. We will discuss tea in the context of regional conflicts, starting with the Russo-Japanese war, and guide the audience in the proper brewing techniques.

Registration for the 4:00 pm event is required. Pitt students have an opportunity to request a free sample from Squirrel Hill's Dobra Tea upon registration.

Chinese Language & Culture Club Meeting at Pitt, September 22.

Chinese Dim Sum, by Lezlie (Creative Commons)

The University of Pittsburgh's Chinese Language & Culture Club will meet every other week this semester, with the next meeting onilne on September 22 at 8:00 pm.

Join the Chinese Language & Culture Club for their bi-weekly meetings. The club celebrates the Chinese culture, language, festivals, and traditions. This semester, we’ll celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival, watch Chinese TV shows, learn about Pitt Chinese Programs, and learn how to make hot pot! etc.

A Zoom link should follow next week, but those interested may also contact Dr. Bei Cheng at beicheng at pitt.edu.